Education minister makes u-turn, admits 2009 FG-ASUU agreement

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has withdrawn his earlier claim that no binding agreement existed between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, acknowledging that the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement remains valid.

In a statement issued on Friday, the minister clarified that the 2009 pact remains the only valid and binding document to date.

The clarification came after addressing reporters on Thursday in Abuja, dismissing ASUU’s position as being based on a draft, insisting that no agreement had ever been signed, a stance the union immediately challenged.

According to the minister, both the 2009 and 2011 documents often cited by ASUU “were never signed, but only proposals presented during negotiations.”

He added that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was committed to resolving long-standing issues with the university lecturers’ union.

However, the ministry, through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, confirmed that the 2009 agreement stands as the last officially signed pact.

The statement explained that efforts to review the deal began in 2017, when then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, inaugurated a renegotiation committee.

It was stated that the process produced the draft Nimi Briggs Agreement in May 2021, but the government stressed that it was never formally executed.

The statement titled “Clarification on Minister’s Statement Regarding FGN-ASUU Agreements” noted,”When the Honourable Minister stated that there had been ‘no new signed agreement’ with ASUU, he was referring specifically to the 2021 draft Nimi Briggs document, which has not been formally executed.

“The Ministry therefore reaffirms that the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement remains the last formally signed agreement.

“The 2021 draft serves only as the latest framework for discussions.”

“The Federal Government remains committed to ending the 16-year stalemate with ASUU in a sustainable and constitutionally backed manner, ensuring our universities remain open for teaching and research.”

The ministry further urged the public and stakeholders to disregard any misinterpretations of the minister’s earlier remarks, stressing that keeping universities open for teaching and research remains the administration’s priority.